Belt buckle



Aug. 7, E923. LSMMW A. L. BLOOM BELT BUCKLE Filed Feb. '7. 1922 school books or in harnesses.

Patented Aug. 7, i223.

AUGUST L. BLOOLVI, OF MARGIE, MINNESOTA..

BELT BUCKLE.

Application filed February 7, 1922. Serial No. 534,784.

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l all fio/0m t may concern.

Be it known that AUGUST L. BLooM, a citizen of the United States, residing at lMargie, in the county of loochiching and State of Minnesota, has invented certain new and useful improvements in Belt Buckles, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to buckles. A buckle involving my invention may be used in many different fields. lt may be employed as a utility for holding a strap or1 webbing in closed position when it is associated for instance with a belt for holding` F rom this it will be clear that l am not restricted to the use of the buckle in any particular field. l have a number of objects in view among the principal of them being the provision of a buckle that can be inexpensive to usc, strong and serviceable and which holds a strap or webbing in closed condition but which may be easily and quickly released.

A further object of my invention is to provide a belt buckle, which can be attached to the end of a strap without the necessity of sticking the buckle through the strap or webbing.

The device comprises other features of novelty-and advantage which with the foregoing will be set forth and claimed in the following description, wherein l will describe in detail the preferred form of embodiment of my invention, which l have selected for illustrating in the drawing accompanying and forming a part of the specification. Clearly l do not restrict my invention to the exact details of construction shown, as l may. depart therefrom in a number of respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of a buckle embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of same.

lligure 3 is a longitudinal transverse section showing my buckle Vapplied to a-belt.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4.-4 of F ig. 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of my buckle showing the clamping member for one end of the strap or webbing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like characters will be used to designate like parts throughout the several views. y

The numeral 1 denotes the front, face of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention, and having side walls 2 which carry a suitable gripping element 3. T his gripping element is secured to the side walls- 2-2 by a spindle 4l. The free end of the gripping element is bent downwardly and backwardly in a parallel relation with the body of same, as indicated by the numeral 5. rllhe bent back portionof the gripping element is provided with ears 6 6 which extend upwardly from the bent back portion and overlap the body portion of the gripping element. An aperture 7 is formed in the gripping element intermediate the sides of same and approximately at a point where the free end of the gripping element ezitends downwardly. Pivotally supported in the ears 6 is a clamp 8 provided with teeth 9 and also has a tail piece 10, which is eX- posed in the aperture 7 formed in the gripping member.

F rom the foregoing,it can be readily seen and understood that the free end of a belt 11 is inserted between the body of the gripping member and the bent back portion of same, and that the clamp 8 having teeth 9 will engage the belt or webbing, the tighter the pull is on the belt, the more firmly the teeth 9 will bite into the belt, thus firmly holding same against outward movement. llVhen for any reason whatsoever, it is desirable to remove the free end of the belt from the gripping element, the tail piece 10 is lifted upwardly, which disengages the teeth of the clamp from the face of the belt, thereby allowing same to be freely pulled therefrom.

Mounted in the other end of the buckle on a spindle 12 carried by the side walls 2-2 is a second clamping member 13. A spring 14 is secured to the spindle at one end and after being coiled about same several times has the opposite end secured to the clamp 13. Journaled on one end of the spindle 12 is a handle 15 adapted for movement in an arcuate circle 16 located in one of the side walls 2 of the buckle.

After one end of the strap has been secured in the gripping element 3 as described above, the free end of the strap is brought around and inserted in the buckle between the body `1 and the clamp 13. The spring 14 is Vnot of sufficient strength to prevent a swinging movement of the clamp 13 when the strap is inserted therein. After the strap has been adjusted in the buckle the spring 14C causes the olainp 13 to rmiy Work itself uga-inst the strap, and harder the pull there is on saine, the tighter the eianip will engage the Strap. Y

niet I Claim for niy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- In e device of the class described corn-V prising` a Channel-shaped front plate', a gripping element formed oi a single sheet of metal pivoted at one end between the side Walls of the ohanneLShaped plate, the op'-v of the bent portion of the gripping element and adapted to overlie the top of the main portion of said gripping element, :i clamp pivotaiiy carried by the ears of the gripping element and positioned between the body oi' same and the bent portion, said Clamp adapted to engage one end or" a belt for securely holding; saine therein and a friction clamp pivoted in the opposite end of the side Walls of sadfront plate for holding' the free end of a belt.4

In testimony whereof I aiiiir my signa ture. i.

' AUGUST L. BLOOM. 

